Spill proof container

Abstract

A "spill-proof" bowl, particularly suitable for a child, for a dry, granular foodstuff to be eaten by hand, comprising a bowl having a hollow interior therein substantially covered over by a cover located on an open end of the bowl for substantially closing off the hollow interior. A tubular portion centrally located in the cover terminates with an inwardly curved edge at its lower extremity in a relatively small, open end for forming an open closure spaced in the hollow interior below the midpoint between the cover and the base to provide visual and selective access to the dry, granular foodstuff located in the hollow interior of the bowl when open. A portion of the tubular portion extends upwardly and terminates in an open, upper end spaced above the cover. A tubular passage depends downwardly through the tubular portion and communicates with the hollow interior of the bowl by means of the open closure means. A cap spaced above the bowl cover is removably located on the open, upper end, completely closing off the open closure and egress and access to the dry, granular foodstuff. The bowl, when suitably sized, can also be used by adults as a "spill-proof" bowl for foodstuff, and, in either event, the diameter of the tubular passage is just a little bit greater than the lateral dimension of the human hand for whom it was designed, the total opening to the hollow interior being otherwise no more than that necessary for hand access.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A "spill-proof" bowl for eating at least somewhat dry, granular foodstuff by hand, comprising: a container base having a peripheral wall attached around its periphery and extending upwardly from said base for forming a container having a hollow interior therein between the interior surfaces of said wall and said base, said container including a relatively large, open end opposite its base for access to said hollow interior;   a cover located on the relatively large, open end of said container for substantially closing off said hollow interior; and   a tubular portion located in a relatively small opening in said cover and positioned above said base, said relatively small opening having a lateral dimension substantially equal to the lateral dimension of the human hand of the size for which it was designed, said tubular portion including a lower portion extending downwardly from said relatively small opening a distance below said cover and having a relatively small, lower, open end at its lower end separated up from said base for forming an open closure means spaced in said hollow interior below the midpoint between said cover and said base for providing visual and selective access to said hollow interior when open, and     an upper portion attached to said lower portion and extending upwardly from said relatively small, open end of said lower portion to terminate in an open, upper end extended and spaced above said cover and said container base having a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said relatively small, open end for access to a tubular passage having a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said relatively small, open end depending downwardly through said tubular portion to communicate with said hollow interior of said container by means of said open closure means; said tubular portion isolating a foodstuff contained between the interior surfaces of said wall and the exterior of said tubular portion away from said relatively small opening when the bowl is tipped over but allowing free access to the foodstuff in the hollow interior by the user's hand without any otherwise un-necessary open area into said interior, "spill proofing" the bowl, said lower end further having an annular portion surrounding the periphery of said relatively small, open end which curves radially inward to form an inwardly directed lip for further ioslating the foodstuff contained in said hollow interior from entering said relatively small, open end when the "spill-proof" bowl is tipped over, said annular portion having an opening suitable for access to the foodstuff by the human hand and providing an inwardly directed lip which radially widens outward to the diameter of said tubular passage for restraining entry into the tubular passage when the "spill-proof" bowl is tipped over; and   closing means spaced above said upper, open end and removably located on said open, upper end for closing off said open closure means and egress and access to the dry, granular foodstuff located in said hollow interior of said container by means of said tubular passage and said open closure means.   
     
     
       2. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 1, wherein said upper, open end of said container has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said lower, open end forming a cylindrical tube. 
     
     
       3. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 2, wherein said relatively small, open end has a diameter substantially equal to the lateral dimension of a child's hand. 
     
     
       4. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 3, wherein said relatively small, open end had a diameter of less than about two and a quarter inches. 
     
     
       5. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 1, wherein said closing means, when located on said open upper end to close off said open closure means, provides a means for preventing contamination of the foodstuff contained in said container. 
     
     
       6. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 5, wherein said closing means provides an additional means for preventing spillage of the foodstuff. 
     
     
       7. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 1, wherein said container is round and said tubular portion is cylindrical and centrally located along the vertical, central axis of the container's round shape. 
     
     
       8. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 1, wherein said lip is curved inwardly forming a curved lip about the periphery of said tubular portion. 
     
     
       9. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 1, wherein at least one handle is provided on the side, exterior wall of said container, assisting in the hand manipulation of the bowl when in use by the eater. 
     
     
       10. The "spill-proof" bowl of claim 9 wherein a pair of handles are provided on opposite sides of said container. 
     
     
       11. A method of "spill-proofing" a dry foodstuff contained in a bowl, while also allowing it to be freely eaten by hand by a child or the like, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a "spill-proof" container including a bowl having a substantial part of its top closed but with a relatively small, open, lower end, having a lateral dimension essentially equal to the lateral dimension of a human hand, positioned in the hollow interior of the bowl below the vertical midpoint of the bowl to prevent substantial spillage of the dry, granular foodstuff contained in the hollow interior of the bowl when the "spill-proof" bowl is tipped over;   (b) providing access to the relatively small, open end by means of a tubular portion having a lateral dimension essentially equal to the lateral dimension of the human hand which includes a lower portion that extends from the exterior of the bowl downwardly and terminates past the midpoint of the bowl in the relatively small, open end;   (c) providng an upper portion of the tubular portion which extends from the exterior of the bowl above the top of said bowl with an open upper end having a diameter at least as large as the diameter of the relatively small, open end and closing means spaced above said upper, open end and removably located on said open, upper end for closing off said open closure means and egress and access to the dry, granular foodstuff located in said hollow interior of said container by means of said tubular passage and said open closure means.   (d) providing a tubular path which depends downwardly from the open upper end and extends through the tubular portion to communicate with the hollow interior of the bowl by means of the relatively small, open end to allow open access to the interior by the human hand;   (e) allowing the user to visually select a portion of the dry foodstuff contained in the hollow interior by a visual path through the tubular path and the relatively small, open end to the hollow interior of the bowl and the foodstuff contained therein;   (f) freely allowing the human hand through the open upper end of the tubular portion down through the tubular path and through the relatively small, open end when said closing means is off to selectively remove a portion of the foodstuff contained in the hollow interior of the bowl but substantially preventing any spilling of the foodstuff from the bowl, should the bowl be tipped over, by said tubular means isolating the foodstuff to move to the interior of the bowl between its sidewalls and the exterior of the said tubular means;   (g) providing an annular portion surrounding the periphery of the relatively small, open end which is directed radially inwardly from the lower end of the tubular portion to form an inwardly directed lip for further isolating the foodstuff contained in said hollow interior from entering said open end; and   (h) further restraining the foodstuff from entering the tubular portion by having the inwardly directed lip radially widen outward to the diameter of the tubular passage for providing the relatively small open end with an opening suitable for access to the foodstuff by the human hand, while having the inwardly directed lip which radially widens restrain entry into the tubular passage when the "spill-proof" bowl is tipped over.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein there is included the additional step of: covering the relatively small, open end in the hollow interior of the bowl with a removable cover spaced above the relatively small, open end and removably located on the open, upper end of the tubular portion to prevent contamination of the foodstuff.